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Miscellany

County starts work on Rogers Road task force

By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer

The Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday decided to appoint a task force that will develop and recommend improvements to the historic Rogers Road community.

The board in March voted to develop a solid waste transfer station at the site of the Eubanks Road landfill in the Rogers Road neighborhood. As part of the development plan, the board approved an effort to address concerns regarding the community and make enhancements to the neighborhood.

Neighborhood residents had argued that because the neighborhood has hosted the county’s landfill since the early 1970s, the county should have not considered the Eubanks Road site for the transfer station.

The county is building a transfer station to transfer solid waste out of county when the landfill reaches capacity in 2010.

Residents have also cited traffic problems in the Rogers Road neighborhood, with increased
congestion and speeding because of construction around the neighborhood, in addition to landfill traffic.

“Until we find a way to make sure that traffic moves safely through the neighborhoods… there is no enhancement of this neighborhood,” said Rev. Robert Campbell, longtime neighborhood resident.

“We’ve got to find a way to make this area safe for the residents of the neighborhood.”

“We’ve been talking about speeding and safety for over 20 years,” he continued.

Campbell also cited a lack of water and sewage service in the neighborhood. “There is no enhancement of the Rogers Road neighborhood if sewage and water is not made available
to that neighborhood.”

Board of commissioners chair Moses Carey proposed that task force meet with meet with the residents of the historic Rogers Road community to determine issues they deem important for improved the quality of life in their community and develop a plan for the improvements. A preliminary report is due June 1 with a final plan ready for review by commissioners on Sept. 1.

“Some fruitful work has already been laid before us that we can start with,” Commissioner
Barry Jacobs said. Jacobs cited previous meetings with the neighborhood where residents raised issues related to potential improvements.

Carey agreed. “We need to capitalize on comments that have been made.”

The board decided that the task force should include up to two commissioners, three residents of the historic Rogers Road community, one resident of Chapel Hill and one resident of Carrboro. In addition, the commissioners agreed that the task force should be formed as soon as possible and decided to recruit potential task force members to be appointed at their next regular meeting on May 3.

To be considered for the task force, complete an application at www.co.orange.nc.us or contact the office of the clerk to the board at (919) 245-2125 by May 2 at 5 p.m.